> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.bilby.health/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Appointment reminders

> Set up automatic reminders, and send one by hand.

## Appointment reminders

Bilby can remind patients before their appointment by email, SMS or both. Admins set this up in **Settings › Reminders**.

### Turn reminders on

1. Go to **Settings › Reminders** and turn on **Appointment reminders**.
2. Choose email, SMS or both, and how long before the appointment to send.
3. Edit the wording if you like. Use **Insert placeholder** to add details such as the patient's name and appointment time.
4. Select **Save**.

Texts aren't sent late at night. Patients with no email, no mobile or who opted out of SMS are skipped, and their **Message history** says why.

### Reply to confirm

Turn on **Reply YES to confirm** to let patients confirm by replying to the reminder text. This needs SMS on. See [YES confirms the appointment](https://docs.bilby.health/messages/patient-replies.md#yes-confirms-the-appointment).

### Add a portal link

If your practice has the patient portal, you can add a portal link to reminders in **Settings › Patient portal**. See [Online booking and patient pages](https://docs.bilby.health/online-booking/overview).

## Send a reminder by hand

> [!NOTE]
>
> Not every practice has this yet. Bilby turns it on for each practice. If you can't see it, contact Bilby support.

You can send a patient a reminder now, for example after they call to check their time. Automatic reminders still go out as planned.

1. Open the appointment and find **Send reminder** under **More actions**.
2. Choose email, SMS or both.
3. Select **Send reminder**.

A practitioner can send one only for their own appointments.


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